Karl & Liesl Kranich

Each year Open Doors releases the World Watch List, a detailed analysis of Christian persecution worldwide. In this free resource, countries are evaluated and ranked according to the severity of persecution that occured in the past year.

Watch an introduction video below, and find out more at www.opendoorsusa.org.

We’ve asked you in the past to pray for our friend and fellow Campus Crusade for Christ staffer Chris, who has esophageal cancer that has spread to his lungs.? The following call for prayer was written by his wife a few days ago.? They have two small children.

We are in the stage of complete exhaustion and desperation. All we could ask is God’s mercy. Please plead God with us that He will bind the stronghold of cachexia (kakeksia) in his body. It is the body’s wasting away. Please pray that the supplements will work to melt all the cancer in his body.

It is our desire that if God will take Chris home, that He will bless his last days with a quality of life (even without the tube!). Right now, the pain is stealing his joy and hope. Pray for our children that beyond confusion,their hearts will be open to receive God’s love and goodness. Lastly pray for me, this is the hardest thing I ever faced in my life – for extraordinary strength, peace and to enjoy every moment with Chris. Above all, amidst all pain and suffering, pray that God ’s glory will shine.

(Sorry that this got posted so late; Liesl wrote it on March 31.? -karl)

Happy Birthday to Karl!!! Today he turned 40 and so the fun has already begun (including the 40 balloons at his desk, thanks Mom). Thought you might like to see.

Now, back to our normally scheduled newsletter ? We love being a part of Keynote. Last week we heard one of our solo artists, Jimmy Fauntleroy, do his thing and it was great. If you want to check out his music (most of which he writes himself) go to www.littlelordmusic.com.

We have had some questions about what exactly our bands/musicians do.? Unlike some Christian artists, they do not play all Christian music.? The goal of our bands is to use good secular music to paint a picture throughout the concert of real heart needs.? They do this through the music and by telling their own stories in between songs in a way that makes sense to the audience.

The goal is that the audience would relate to the story. Then when they hear how God loves them and wants to give them a different future than the path they’re on now, just like He did with the band member telling his story, they will want a relationship with God, too.

This is also why we have such a wide variety of bands.? Each plays different music and so can reach a different group of people.? From rap to acoustic, we want to “be all things to all men so that by all possible means (we) might save some.” I Cor. 9:22.? Our bands excel in quality, but what matters the most is their hearts.? They share real stories about how God has changed their lives and they pray and trust God to do the work in peoples’ hearts.

We hope hearing this give you a better picture of the way our people minister so you can pray for them.? They face a lot of obstacles, from tiring travel to spiritual battle, both before and during concerts.? And thanks to God, people’s lives are changed because our artists are willing to go to them.? God bless you!

Please pray for the summer project bands as they head out on tour from July 17 to August 3.? Here they are…